Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Sinn Féin in government will repeal the Family Home Tax – Brady

Sinn Féin in government will repeal the Family Home Tax – Brady

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor John Brady has welcomed the SinnFein bill to repeal the Family Home Tax that was introduced to theDail this week and said his party is committed to repealing the tax ifin government after the next general election.

Speaking after the launch of the Financial Local Property Tax RepealBill Councillor Brady said:

“This bill is a key part of Sinn Fein’s alternative to austerity forlower and middle income families. These families have borne the bruntof austerity budget after austerity budget under Fianna Fáil and FineGael/Labour. They need a break.

“This tax was signed off on by Fianna Fáil and has been taken up bythe Fine Gael and Labour. There are a wide range of alternatives asSinn Féin has consistently pointed out.

“The method of collection of this new tax is brutal. Those who areaccepted as being unable to pay face a 4% penalty next year whilethose who can’t pay but are not recognised as being unable to pay facea 8% penalty. The government will raid salaries, social welfarepayments and pensions to extract this tax on the family home.

“We know the reality that one in four mortgages are in distress yetthese same households who may be in negative equity and have paidstamp duty now face this extra tax. That is blatantly unfair.

“We saw in last week’s list of exempted ghost estates just how fewexemptions will be tolerated.

“Sinn Féin in government will repeal this tax. Our bill would refundthe tax paid by citizens for the year in which it is scrapped.

“This bill which has been introduced on the floor of the Dáil thisweek and will be debated during our Private Members’ Time at theearliest opportunity.

“We will continue to campaign across the state to win support for this bill.”